Remarks from the Recordist

Two Woodpigeons taking turns to call - a typical scenario. I do not have an explanation that favours neighbours calling to each other (either of the same or opposite sex) or territorial rights being broadcast or perhaps a pair hailing each other. Sociability may be closest to the truth. One reference tends to support this contention. In A STUDY OF BIRD SONG (second enlarged edition, 1973) by Edward A Armstrong, the following comment appears in Addenda 1 (page257): 'When shooting woodpigeons, French wildfowlers imitate their cooing to reassure perched birds (R.G.Busnel and J.Giban; Colloque 1958).' Hence, my best guess is that any Woodpigeons in an area like to keep within earshot of each other. For example, a walk along linear woodland - such as a lakeshore - will encounter a corridor of Woodpigeon sound. As in this recording, rules of etiquette apply. Just like debaters, each waits for the other to finish before 'returning fire'.

There is a standard pattern in Woodpigeon voice. The opening stanza (almost) invariably consists of four notes. All subsequent stanzas contain five notes. A full burst usually has the four-note opening followed by 2, 3 or 4 repetitions of the five-noted stanza. At the end of the broadcast a final solo note signifies a kind of aural full stop. The full stop is optional and is sometimes not produced. The two birds in this recording are pretty standard. However, the first caller is unusual in that as many as 6 five-noted stanzas are uttered. Perhaps the responses from the second bird encouraged the first to produce more five-noted stanzas than usual? The first bird begins with four notes, then delivers a series of 6 five-noted stanzas and 'signs off' with a full stop just after 0:21. At 0:26 the second bird commences. Again, its first stanza contains four notes, followed by 3 five-noted stanzas. Finally, just after 0:36, it produces a full stop. Less than a second later - just after 0:37 - the original bird sets off on a repeat of its first performance. Note how the mood of delivery can vary over each five-noted stanza. For example, some stanzas are more energetic whereas others sound lazy or sleepy. Background species include song bursts from (in chronological order) Chaffinch (such as at 0:00 and 0:22), Blackbird, Goldfinch and Wren.